Electrolytic cell



Fgb. 4, 1930. P AUBEL 1,745,348

ELECTROLYTIC CELL Filed Feb. 11, 1928 INVENTOR.

WWI-M ATTORNEYS.

I Patented 7 Feb; lld d uuirao ST -res arrears PATENT orrlcs PA L KRANZ AUBEL, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR 'ro AMERIcAN SMELTING AND nnrmrne coMrAnY, or new rows, 1:. Y., A CORPORATION or nnw JERSEY ELECTROLYTIC oELL Application filed February -11, 1928. Serial No. 253,552.

. This invention relates t o electrolytic apparatus, and more'particularly to a new and ,impro ved means for conducting current to the electrodes of an electrolytic cell. A simplified construction is provided which allows the individual electrodes to be readilyassembled and, dissembled, whereas the ,voltage drop between the various joints is maintained extremely low.

In electrolytic apparatus such as that used in the refining of metals, the cells are frequently of large dimensions and heavy currents are employed for causing the metal to 'deposit on the cathodes, as for example, curthe resistance of all parts is maintained eX- tremely low.

In accordance with the present invention, current is fed to the various electrodes by means of joints which are especially designed to reduce the resistance. The cooperating parts are so formed that a wedge action is obtained for causing a firm and intimate contact therebetween. The increase in weight of' the cathode as the metal is deposited thereon is utilized for producing a sliding.

. action between the various elements which automatically cleans the joints and prevents the resistance thereof from increasing due to accumulated dirt or impurities. A space is provided adjacent the sliding joint to permit the impurities or other accumulations to be removed and the joint itself to be washed when-desired. I

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and.

combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed. Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, the mode of its operation and the manner-of its organization,

may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Fig. l is a sectional View showing a'pair of electrolytic tanks electrically .connected in series, the anode of one tankbeing connected to the cathode of the adjacent tank;and

Fig.2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 showing the sliding joint in detail.

Like reference characters denote like parts" in the several figures of the drawings.

In the following description and in the claims parts will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, a specific form of the invention has been dis closed for purpose of illustration, which comprises an electrolyticv tank haying a base and side walls 11 which may be formed of insulating or of poorly conducting material, such as wood. Anode 12 is suspended in one tank section by means ofa pair of arms 13, preferably formed integrally which rest on bars 14 supported by walls 11,

Cathode 15'is suspended in the second tank section from cathode bar 16 as by a pair of shrouds 17 passing over said cathode bar and secured to said cathode as by rivets or bolts 18. Cathode'bar 16 is supported from 'pressure block 19 of insulating material which rests upon wall 11 and upon the adjacent arm 13 of anode 12 in the manner about to be described.

Cathode bar 16 maybe formed with its lower portion wedge shaped, as shown more in detail in Fig. 2, and adapted to fit in a wedge shaped groove in anode arm 13.- The relation of the lower portion of bar 16 to said groove is such that a space is normally provided between the bottom of said bar and the bottom of said groove for permitting the joint to be flushed out and allowing clearance for further wedging or sliding action to take place. The wedge surfaces are preferably formed at a comparatively small angle to the vertical, in order that the lateral pressure exerted thereby will be considerably in excess of the Vertical pressure produced by the weight of portion of the bar and the anode.

the cathode. The surfaces should also he suflicientlylong to prevent space 20 from being closedup during normal operation of the 1 apparatus.

. The'upper portion of thebar' may beformed of any desired shape for cooperating with shrouds 17 and forming an-intimate contact therewith. A bar of octagonal shape as shown in the drawings has been found to be satisfactory. for this purpose although the invention. is not limited thereto, and itis understood that the contact between shroud and the upper portion of the bar may be similar in form and action to that between thelower -After the anode and cathode have been assemhled as shown, the normal weight of the cathode will cause cathode bar 16 to firmly seat in the wedge-shaped groove in arm 13fand to assume the position shown in the drawing. The wedging action of the cooper- .ating arts causes a high pressure to be enerted etween the contacting surfaces which may be sufiicient to cause a slight upsetting or abrading to take place. This Wedging action assures an intimate contact being obtained.

As the cathode increases in weight due to metal which may be deposited thereon, bar 16 is caused to slide downwardly in arm 13 and in so doing to more firmly wedge itself there in. This sliding movement causes a suflicient abrasion of the surfaces to remove dirt or other impurities and to maintain the same in clean condition.

As a specific example, in a cell carrying 12,220 amperes the voltage drop due to the connection between the cathode bar and the anode arm decreased from the initial value of 2.7 millivolts to 2.2 mil-livolts after 14: days use. It is evident, therefore, that the sliding type of joint described above has a resistance which is not only extremely low initrode, means for supporing said electrode and for applying current thereto comprising a bar having the lower portion of its sides tapered and a'contacting member extending in a direction parallel to said bar and having a tapered, longitudinally extending groove adapted to receive said bar, said groove being of greater depth than the tapered portion of said bar whereby a clearance is provided and being extended longitudinallybeyond said bar whereby cleaning is facilitated,

the tapers ofsaid groove and said barbeing such that a-wedging action is produced along a 'line extending longitudinally of said bar whereby the weight of the electrode causes a slidingmovement between said bar and said groove for cleaning said surfaces and insuring a good electrical contact.

2. In combination with" a pair of electrolytic cells having anodes and cathodes, means for supporting said cathode comprising a bar having the lower portion of its sides tapered to form a wedge, means for hanging said cathode from said bar, said anodes being provided with outwardlyextending lugs, said lugs having longitudinally extending grooves with tapered sides adapted to receive the ta-. pered surface of said bar, said groove being extended beyond and below said bar to facilitate cleaning and being adapted to-exert a wedging action .thereon whereby a firm mechanical contact is afforded due to the weight of the supported electrode.

In testimony whereof I have hereuntoiset my hand.

. PAUL KRANZ AUBEL.

tially but actually reduces during use. In

addition to this-advantage, h0wever, the bar is of simple shape which may be formed directly in a rolling mill, and the parts may be assembled and dissembled with a minimum amount of labor.

The invention has been shown as applied 

